Couple fall overboard from Carnival cruise ship

Authorities are conducting an air and marine search off Australia's east coast for two cruise passengers who were believed to have fallen overboard. The Australian couple were discovered missing after the Carnival Spirit docked in Sydney. (May 9)

Authorities are conducting an air and marine search off Australia's east coast for two cruise passengers who were believed to have fallen overboard. The Australian couple were discovered missing after the Carnival Spirit docked in Sydney. (May 9)

A couple aboard a Carnival Cruise Lines cruise ship have gone overboard in waters off Australia, and are missing, the Miami-based cruise line confirmed in a statement Thursday.

The Carnival Spirit returned to port in Sydney earlier in the day without the couple, who according to reports, were last spotted the night before.

Here’s Carnival’s statement on the incident:

May 9 2013 - 9:05 a.m. EDT

“We have naturally been concerned since we became aware that two passengers were missing from Carnival Spirit and our thoughts are clearly with their families at this difficult time. We are working closely with New South Wales Police and assisting them in their inquiries. At approximately 9:15am today Australia time during the debarkation process for Carnival Spirit at the conclusion of a 10-night cruise in Sydney, it became apparent that two guests, a 26-year-old woman and a 30-year-old man, were unaccounted for. The guests in question were traveling with family and friends and initial reports indicate that the couple was last seen onboard the vessel last night. As part of our standard protocol, a full ship search was conducted as well as examination of closed circuit video. There is indication from the shipboard video of what transpired. There is no evidence of foul play. However, out of respect for the families, we are not going to publicly disclose the details of what occurred at this time.”

The 2680-guest Carnival Spirit is the only cruise ship for Carnival to be based year-round in the Australian market. It was deployed there in October 2012.